Contract Approval Could Bring More Red-Light Cameras to Lakeland

City commissioners voted 5-2 on Monday to approve a contract with its red-light camera provider that could bring 10 to 30 additional cameras to Lakeland inter-sections.

JOHN CHAMBLISSTHE LEDGER

LAKELAND | City commissioners voted 5-2 on Monday to approve a contract with its red-light camera provider that could bring 10 to 30 additional cameras to Lakeland inter-sections.

The vote means that in 2013 commissioners will talk about adding new cameras to additional intersections. Those meetings will likely occur in the spring.

Lakeland now has nine cameras at five intersections.

City officials have discussed putting new ones at Griffin Road and U.S. 98, at Memorial Boulevard and North Massachusetts Avenue, at the Polk Parkway and South Florida Avenue and at Parkview Place and North Florida Avenue.

As of this summer, the city had made a total of $120,000 from the cameras during a two-year period, city officials have said. The city is making about $4,000 a month from the fines.

After months of extending its current contract, Fields said, the city needed to have a new contract in place with ATS.

"I understand Commissioner Troller's desire to rebid but based on what we have before us we need to a contract in place that allows us to exit or extend (the red-light pro-gram)."

In the proposed five-year contract with ATS, the city would pay the same rate — $4,750 per camera each month. But if city officials choose to add 10 new cameras, the city would receive a discount on its least profitable cameras and some of its newer cameras.

The cost for intersections where the city loses money — southbound Cleveland Heights Boulevard and Edgewood Drive, northbound Cleveland Heights Boulevard and Edgewood Drive and westbound Daughtrey Road and Walt Loop Road — would be $2,375 per month if the city chooses to buy new cameras.

The vote to negotiate with ATS occurred in early August. Three commissioners were absent from the meeting, including Troller. Selvage, who attended the meeting, said city officials made a compelling argument to stick with ATS.

"I saw it as a cost savings," Selvage said.

In June 2009, red-light cameras in Lakeland were authorized by a city ordinance. The city has paid ATS more than $2 million as of October.

[ John Chambliss can be reached at john.chambliss@theledger.com or 863-802-7588. ]